Unit for fireplaces



Oct. 20, 1936. DAMEL 2,057,659

UNIT FOR FIREPLACES Filed Nov. 7, 1935 Patented Get. 20, 1936 STTES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a unit for fireplaces, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a unit of this kind which can be conveniently assembled or disassembled as required and which, when in applied or working position serves effectively to support the back stick and the fore stick together with the intermediate fire sticks so that the fire may be caused to burn in a manner to prevent burning out of the rear wall of the fireplace proper and also to permit the effective banking of ashes to further protect the back wall of the fireplace.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a unit of this kind comprising three pieces, two of which constituting fire dogs and the third piece constituting a back plate for maintaining the fire dogs in desired assembled relation and also to facilitate the maintenance of the desired bank of ashes and to also provide protection against fire for the back wall of the fireplace.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved unit for fireplaces whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less' expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating a fireplace unit constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position, the associated fireplace being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is'a view in top plan of my improved unit as herein disclosed and in assembled or working arrangement;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the assembly or unit as illustrated in Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, my improved fireplace unit comprises three members A, B and C, the members A and B being in duplicate and constituting fire dogs while the third member C constitutes a back plate for connecting the fire dogs A and B to maintain the unit in desired assembled or working arrangement and also to provide means for holding and maintaining a bank D of ashes as indicated in Figure 1 to protect the rear wall of the fireplace proper against the intense heat of the fire whereby the life of the back wall of the fireplace is materially prolonged.

The dogs A and B are of desired dimensions and each of said dogs comprises a central or intermediate straight portion l, the forward end of which being continued by an elongated and upwardly disposed arm 2. The rear end of the central or intermediate portion l is continued by a plate 3 which extends a considerable distance above the central or intermediate portion I. The plate 3 at its transverse center is provided with an upwardly facing recess or notch 4 of desired depth while the upper edge 5 of the plate 3 at opposite sides of the notch or recess 4 is upwardly curved whereby said plate 3 provides an effective seat for a rear stick R which, as is believed to be readily understood by those familiar with fireplaces, is generally quite large so that it will burn slowly and at the same time afford further protection to the back wall of the fireplace against the intense heat of the fire and more particularly against the blaze of the fire. The forward arm 2 serves as a seat for a fore stick F which is also large in size as known to those familiar with fireplaces of this kind, said applied sticks or logs R and F serving to hold in place the fire sticks or logs L which are piled or stacked upon the central portion 1 of each of the dogs A and B between the logs F and R. The logs L burn freely and while the fore log F also burns such burning is fairly slow so that the log F provides means to hold the fire as best desired within the fireplace.

Each of the fire dogs A and B adjacent to the extremities of its intermediate or central portion I has depending therefrom the relatively broad legs 6 which, as is clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, contact directly with the hearth of the fireplace.

The member C is of desired length and is relatively broad with its outer or front face substantially flat although, as herein disclosed, this front face has produced thereon in any desired design grooves or channels 1 whereby the weight of the member C is lightened, as it is to be understood that this member C as well as the fire dogs A and B are preferably made of cast iron although, of course, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself as to any particular metal, character of metal, or material.

At predetermined points therealong the member or plate C in its lower marginal portion is provided with notches or recesses 8 opening through the lower margin of the member or plate C and each of said notches 8 receives the portion of the plate 3 of a fire dog A or B immediately below the notch or recess 4. The front face of the member or plate C in its upper portion is also provided with the grooves 9, each of which being in continuation of a, recess 8. Each of these grooves 9 receives the adjacent portion of a plate 3 in advance of a notch or recess 4 as the member or plate C is fitted within such notch or recess 4.

It is, therefore, to' be particularly noted that my improved unit for a fireplace comprises but three pieces which can be readily and conveniently assembled or disassembled especially in View of the fact that no means other than the interlocking features hereinbefore described are required to maintain the various members or pieces in desired assembled or working relation. This assembly of the unit with equal facility permits a quick and easy separation of the parts so that when not in use the unit may be stored aWay within a minimum of space.

With the unit applied within a fireplace it is to be noted that the back plate or member 0 is fairly close to the rear or back wall of the fireplace whereby this plate serves effectively to maintain a bank D of ashes at the rear of'the fireplace and against the lower portion of the rear or back wall to protect such back wall against the intense heat of the fire. During the burning it is believed to be clearly apparent that the embers will drop down upon the hearth and that the arrangement of the fire dogs A and B when in working position is such as to offer but little, if any, hindrance or obstruction to the removal or other handling of the ashes as may be desired. It is also to be particularly noted that the back plate or member C of the unit is supported by the fire dogs A and B at such height above the hearth of the fireplace to eliminate possibility of the ashes packing against the rear wall of the fireplace and more particularly immediately behind the plate or member C so that the ready removal of the ashes is at all times assured.

It is also to be noted that each of the notches or recesses 4 gradually increases in width from its bottom to its topas is particularly illustrated in Figure 1. This is done to provide means to allow the plate or member C and the fire dogs A and B to have relative rocking movement. This movement is of importance to compensate for any irregularities which may be present in the hearth or which may otherwise be caused to prevent an evenseating of both of the dogs A and B.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a unit for a fireplace constructedin accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason If do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:--

1. A fireplace unit comprising a pair of fire dogs of duplicate construction, each of said dogs comprising an intermediate straight portion, the forward end of which being continued by an elongated and upwardly disposed arm, an upstanding plate carried by the rear portion of the dog and extending a material distance above the intermediate straight portion, said plate being relatively wide, legs depending from the dog adjacent to the extremities of the intermediate straight portion, and a back plate, the upstanding plates of the dogs and the back plate having coacting means permitting the back plate and upstanding plates of the dogs to detachably interlock.

2. A fireplace unit comprising a pair of fire dogs of duplicate construction, each of said dogs comprising an intermediate straight portion, the forward end of which being continued by an elongated and upwardly disposed arm, an upstanding plate carried by the rear portion of the dog and extending a material distance above the intermediate straight portion, said plate being relatively wide, legs depending from the dog adjacent to the extremities of the intermediate straight portion, and a back plate, the upstanding plates of the dogs and the back plate having coacting means permitting said back plate and upstanding plates of the dogs to detachably interlock, the front face of the back plate being grooved.

3. A fireplace unit comprising a pair of fire dogs of duplicate construction, each of said dogs comprising an intermediate straight portion, the forward end of which being continued by an elongated and upwardly disposed arm, an upstanding plate carried by the rear portion of the dog and extending a material distance above the intermediate straight portion, said plate being relatively wide, legs depending from the dog adjacent to the extremities of the intermediate straight portion, and a back plate, the upstanding plates of the dogs and the back plate having coacting means permitting the back plate and upstanding plates of the dogs to detachably interlock, the back plate constituting the only connection between the dogs, the interlocking engagement between the back plate and the upstanding plates of the dogs being constructed and arranged to maintain the dogs in required assembled relation.

JAMES D. DANIEL. 

